Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Friendster, Four Square & InstaGram just to name a few are some of Americas top social networking sites. I have all of these and some I am shamelessly addicted too I am sorry to say. While most of it is to keep our family up to date on our goings on because there are many miles between us...I have to admit that I use mine to update on almost everything. I check my friends and like or comment on there goings on and I even post pics.......LOTS OF PICS.

It has come to my attention that while we may just love these sites and check them before we are even fully wake each morning (GUILTY!) that is truly breaking down the type of friendships we need to have. We talk more on facebook than in person, we read way to much into letters on a screen and get mad, happy or even break up over something that was taken the wrong way. You cant read emotion into 147 letters, you cant see a smile in black and white and we most certainly cannot get the camaraderie that can only be found in a group of friends with a computer screen. Yes at times its the only way we can have interaction with others, epically when miles separate you. But we cannot let it subsitue for live interaction with friends.

You post "Going out to eat" and lets say something happens and you don't or you decide to eat in instead and then friends start posting vague comments about how people don't do what they say and blah blah blah. What happened to good old fashioned back stabbing instead of vague post?

You post "Gosh people irritate the hell out of me!" (so guilty of this one!) and then 5 friends are not talking to you because they think its about them. When in reality is more than likely a grouchy client at work, guy who cut you off on the way home or your spouse.

You post "HA HA you deserve that one" on someones status totally joking and then you lost a friend because o the words in black and white that you cant see the persons intent behind.

My life has enough drama in it caused by family, or activities we belong too (not really drama but you know what I mean) and I don't have the time to explain everything I put on social media outlets.

I want to sit down with my friends for dinner, while we let the kids play, go to a movie or just 10 mins on the phone and laugh, talk and catch up with one another instead of reading everything on a social media and then 50% of the time take it the wrong way.

So with the exception of family...I am off of facebook for 30 days. I want to see how I feel when its all said and done; and I am only going to look once a day. (Ok so maybe we will start slow on that).

I am also going to be texting less. If we are not a work, Church or some other organized function I am going to call....get over it. LIsten to my voice mail and text me back but I wont be texting back, I am going to be calling. We need to get back to human interaction and less hiding behind a screen.

I Usually send 7,500-10,000 text messages a month....thats going to be no more than 5,000 (to start) next month my goal is to be 2,500 then 1,000. Dont like it? Get over it! We use to interact, laugh and have fun. So lets start that again. It worked for almost 2,000 years before text messaging and social media...it can work again.

Me and my hubby dont email, or text or even social media each other (we have and do ocassionally....like les then once a month)....WE TALK TO EACH OTHER.

If your mad at me... TELL ME, say "I am mad at you right now, will talk later" it takes less energy to tell someone that than it takes to ignore them...escially when you ignore them and they dont get the point.

So lets see how this 30 days unfolds. I might give up and check more than I should. I might send you a text, that I am mad at you. But I am going to spend the next 30 days doing as much human interaction as possible and see how it effects my life. Hopefully the impact will be positive and life changing (in a good way :) )

Preva's (or Franks Redhot) Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

Below is my most popular post ever...156 views.  Its even been tagged on Pinterest (my highest honor)  and this recipe is undoubtly my all-time favorite recipe, most requested and most served at parties. You can make it with more Franks than it calls for (what we do).  Even my young kids eat this dip; I never have leftovers!!

Its simply the best..... I lost it once...so I blogged it..in case I ever loose my hard copy...I have viral!

http://giftfarms.blogspot.com/2012/12/prevas-buffalo-chicken-ranch-dip.html